Storage-based log file management

Abstract

A process in a system can monitor available free storage space on a storage device, and, based on preset log file parameters, can act upon log files being stored on or written to the storage device to keep the storage device from running out of storage space due to excessive logging. The process monitors the device free space as reported by the file system to determine space utilization. A threshold of free space can be specified as a parameter. A log file action can also be specified as a parameter and is an action designed to reduce the space being used by a log file or log files. Once the process recognizes that the free space is under the threshold it will perform the configured action.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a processing device; and 
 at least one storage device including instructions for an application or service external to an operating system that are executable by the processing device for causing the processing device to perform operations comprising:
 monitoring, by issuing commands to the operating system, free space on the at least one storage device while at least one log file is being written to the at least one storage device by the application or service, the free space configured for use by multiple applications or services; 
 comparing the free space on the at least one storage device to a predetermined threshold indicative of storage space to be maintained as free space on the at least one storage device; and 
 executing at least one log file action in response to the free space reported by the operating system on the at least one storage device falling below the predetermined threshold. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one storage device comprises a first storage device including the instructions and a second storage device to which the at least one log file is written. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  wherein the operations further comprise receiving or accessing log file storage parameters, the log file storage parameters including the predetermined threshold and the at least one log file action. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3  further comprising a user input device, wherein the log file storage parameters are received through the user input device. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 3  wherein the log file storage parameters further include at least one of a log file identifier, a log file directory, or a log file priority. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 3  wherein the at least one log file action includes at least one of log file deletion, log file rotation, or log file write prevention. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one log file action comprises:
 rotating the at least one log file to produce a closed log file; and 
 compressing the closed log file. 
 
     
     
       8. A method comprising:
 monitoring, by a processing device executing an application or service external to an operating system issuing commands to the operating system, free space on a storage device while at least one log file is being written to the storage device by the application or service, the free space configured for use by multiple applications or services; 
 comparing, by the processing device, the free space for the storage device to a predetermined threshold indicative of storage space to be maintained as free space on the storage device; and 
 executing, by the processing device, at least one log file action in response to the free space reported by the operating system on the storage device falling below the predetermined threshold. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  further comprising receiving or accessing log file storage parameters, the log file storage parameters including the predetermined threshold and the at least one log file action. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  further wherein the log file storage parameters are received through a user input device. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  wherein the log file storage parameters further include at least one of a log file identifier, a log file directory, or a log file priority. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  wherein the at least one log file action includes at least one of log file deletion, log file rotation, or log file write prevention. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8  wherein the at least one log file action comprises:
 rotating the at least one log file to produce a closed log file; and 
 compressing the closed log file. 
 
     
     
       14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code for an application or service external to an operating system that is executable by a processing device for causing the processing device to:
 monitor, by issuing commands to the operating system, free space on a storage device while at least one log file is being written to the storage device by the application or service, the free space configured for use by multiple applications or services; 
 compare the free space for the storage device to a predetermined threshold indicative of storage space to be maintained as free space on the storage device; and 
 execute at least one log file action in response to the free space reported by the operating system on the storage device falling below the predetermined threshold. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14  wherein the storage device comprises the non-transitory computer-readable medium. 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14  wherein the program code is executable by the processing device for causing the processing device to receive or access log file storage parameters, the log file storage parameters including the predetermined threshold and the at least one log file action. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the program code is executable by the processing device for causing the processing device to receive the log file storage parameters through a user input device. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the log file storage parameters further include at least one of a log file identifier, a log file directory, or a log file priority. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the at least one log file action includes at least one of log file deletion, log file rotation, or log file write prevention. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14  wherein the at least one log file action comprises:
 rotating the at least one log file to produce a closed log file; and 
 compressing the closed log file.